The First Persian in Paris

This week saw the opening of the new open-air commercial district in downtown Los Angeles, L.A. Live.

Last night I paid a visit to the area, attending the Oasis show at Staples Center. Going there I got the full 411 on the edifices thanks to a massive awareness campaign launched by AEG's marketing folks.

In every supplement I read there was a feature on Sam Nazarian, a 34-year-old local restaurateur who has made quite a commercial empire for himself with his chain of uber-posh stuff. Nazarian's Katsuya Asian restaurant will be one of the main eatery chains anchoring L.A. Live.

Like so many else in this weird city of ours, Nazarian makes sure to conceal the factoid he was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. Baba Nazarian was a high-ranking executive at Qualcomm during that company's burgeoning years. (Shhhhhhhh. Don't say nothin'. He's a "self-made millionaire".)

As it turns out, last night it so happened that Nazarian threw a big bash. I didn't get an invite. And it wasn't for the AEG event, but for the grand opening of his SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Everyone from L.A. mayor Antonio Villaragoisa to Rosario Dawson checked in. And of course, Paris. Yuck.